I looked at many properties, and the J and L Builders, LLC’s property far exceeded the others. The design is simple, crisp, bright and classic. My investment has provided me with a lovely, well-appointed easily livable home, and the timeless design can surely serve generations. J and L has stood by their work, and the home inspectors that were hired stated as such. John Collins is a hands-on artisan, thoughtful about his design and construction, and has been very pleasant to work with addressing any minor quirks in this new construction.
-Annie
We first got to know J&L Builders and John Collins after touring a spec home they had built and listed for sale. Although the home was outside of our targeted neighborhood and in a different school district, we were so impressed by the quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail that we seriously considered making an offer. Thoughtful design and impeccable finishes set this home truly apart from any other new construction home we had toured in the market.
The thought of building our own home never crossed our minds until we met John. When we happened upon a vacant lot for sale just blocks from our previous home, we knew exactly where to turn. John was an absolute pleasure to work with throughout the process. Kind, honest, communicative and accessible, he is everything the opposite of the horror stories you hear about many contractors. His pride of workmanship shows through in everything he does. And today, more than 18 months since moving in, we are just as impressed by his willingness to answer questions or help address even the smallest of issues we may encounter in routine home ownership. We simply cannot say enough good things about John and his team.
-Yale
We hired J&L Builders to take over our renovation after 6 months of little progress from our original contractor. John Collins was the GC for the property across the street and we could see first-hand how effectively he managed his builds. Once John’s team started our project, it moved very quickly. His amazing team of carpenters began framing right before Thanksgiving and by Christmas the framing was complete, the windows were installed, and Tyvek was up! As anyone knows when working on a reno, there will be changes to the design. John helped us navigate through those decisions ensuring we had options that kept us not only within budget but maintained the aesthetics of our vintage 1906 farmhouse. John knew I loved my coved plaster ceilings, but with the expansion of our dining room, a new support beam required the removal of the original plaster work. Knowing my disappointment of the change, John recommended a coffer ceiling which has become one of our favorite features of J&L’s craftsmanship! It was a true partnership working with John. He was in constant communication with my husband as questions arose during the construction and I met regularly with John to review the payouts. We were fortunate that the project completed just as COVID shutdowns started in the spring of 2020. John exceeded our expectations as a contractor, and we not only gained a beautiful home, but a new friend. John recently completed his 3rd renovation on our block in 2021, and we now affectionately refer to our street as John Collins Way.
Angela and Jim
We were interested in adding a 2nd floor and improving our first floor family room. We quoted the project and were disappointed from both a vision and pricing perspective. Then we spoke with J & L Builders. John and his tradesmen really understand the building process from a functional and emotional perspective. The combination is invaluable. He clearly conveyed what was involved, the timing, costs, and potential variables. He listened to our thoughts/concerns and addressed them in plain speak. The quality of the work is impeccable. The project was completed on time despite the onset of COVID. J&L made it such that we could incorporate a few things that were important to us. We chose to use wooden beams in our family room. We were able to keep and integrate the exterior (exposed) brick into our new master bedroom. We added built-in speakers inside and out (patio). There were significant cost associated with those decisions from all the other quotes/builders. John helped us find a way to make it work financially and aesthetically. It’s nearly two years later and we still talk about how grateful we are to have worked with J&L Custom Builders. We couldn’t recommend them more highly.
Kevin & Jacqui
Designing and building your custom dream home for your family is an exciting and daunting experience. The builder and client relationship is such an important and intimate relationship. John takes the time to get to know your family, your needs, your budget and your timeline. The professionalism and experience of John from J and L builders cannot be matched. Every detail is just as important to John as it is to the clients. We love our home, it has exceeded all of our expectations and we are so grateful to J and L builders.
Kelly and Tim